Last month we talked about breastfeeding. Hopefully you were able to read through the blog and gain new information regarding breastfeeding. If not, feel free to go back and read it. This month I want to talk about bottle feeding. Whether you are choosing to exclusively bottle feed your baby formula or pumped breastmilk or if you find yourself needing to supplement your baby with bottles due to certain circumstances, I hope this blog will be helpful to you.
For me personally, I fed my babies by both breast and bottle. Initially, I had to offer a few bottles to my older two girls in the first week of life because of medical reasons. My oldest had jaundice and needed supplementation to get her bilirubin down and my middle daughter ended up in the NICU for a couple of days due to low blood sugars. After the first week, I was able to exclusively breastfeed until it was time to go back to work. Based on my experience, I strongly suggest introducing bottles several weeks in advance if you know you will be in this situation. My oldest did not like bottles! It took several months for her to finally give in and willingly take a bottle, but until then it was pure misery for her and my husband trying to get her to eat. She would scream for hours to the point of exhaustion and then finally take just enough to satisfy her and go to sleep (I worked night shift at the time). But with my third daughter, she was so go with the flow that she would eat no matter which method it was offered to her. I often hear moms worry about whether offering bottles to your baby will interfere with breastfeeding and vice versa. I honestly think it depends on the baby. If your goal is to establish breastfeeding, then I would suggest holding off on offering a bottle for the first few weeks if you are able to. But if you’re in a position like I was, working on breast and bottle feeding is perfectly fine. A lot of times I’ve found that the reason babies reject breastfeeding after receiving bottles is due more to the flow of the milk and not the actual act of drinking from the breast itself. This is where paced bottle feeding can come in handy, so keep reading to learn more!
The best way to go about bottle feeding for any baby is to choose a slower flow nipple and offer paced bottle feeding, especially in the beginning. By using the appropriate bottle nipple, you will provide safety as the milk will not flow too fast into their mouth. Paced bottle feeding refers to allowing your baby to drink the milk for a certain length (about 4-5 swallows) and then tilting the bottle down so the milk is no longer flowing to give them a short break. Once your baby begins sucking again, tilt the bottle back up so the milk will flow. Paced bottle feeding allows your baby to eat more slowly, take breaks, and avoid overfeeding. It can also help avoid the discomforts from eating too fast. Stopping to burp your baby 2-3 times during their feed will also allow them to get rid of any excess air, avoid gas discomfort, and help slow down the feeding time. The best positions to feed your baby in are either semi-upright or side-lying, making sure you support their head and neck. Avoid feeding your baby on their back, as this can help avoid choking. Never prop the bottle in your baby’s mouth for them to “self-feed” because this can also increase their chances of choking and ear infections. It might be a good idea to teach anyone who will be feeding your baby the paced bottle-feeding method, as many people might not be familiar with it, especially the older generation.
When it comes to preparing your baby’s bottle, there are several things to consider to avoid contaminating the milk and potentially causing your baby to get sick. First, always wash your hands before you start! Hand washing is the number one method for preventing infections. Bottles also need to be washed and sanitized before using. For breastmilk, heat the milk using a bottle warmer or by placing the bottle of breastmilk into a glass of hot water until it warms to the correct temperature. Never put breastmilk in the microwave to heat it up. For formula, use either distilled water or boil the water if using tap water to eliminate bacteria. Mix the formula using the instructions provided on the can. The water always goes in the bottle first, and then add the formula powder to it. If you prefer, you can heat up the formula using the same methods as heating breastmilk. Always test the milk by dropping a few drops onto your wrist to make sure the milk is not too hot before feeding your baby. Once prepared, formula is good for up to 2 hours at room temperature or 24 hours in the fridge. Once you have offered a bottle to your baby, that milk is only good for 1hour due to possible bacteria contamination from their mouth.
Whichever method you use to feed your baby, just remember that fed is best! Each family and each baby will take their own journey, so take heart in knowing that you are doing what is best for your baby and your situation! Best of luck on your feeding journey!
References:
https://www.health.state.mn.us/docs/people/wic/localagency/wedupdate/moyr/2017/topic/1115feeding.pdf